Thread: A couple of questions from a noob...

Hi all,

I'm an undergrad at the University of Toronto, entering my 4th year. My gpa is a 3.00 with a 2.7 in the sciences. I am doing the MCAT next April. Given my low grades, I have been looking at alternatives to US and Canadian med schools, and have found out about foreign schools just recently. SGU seems to be the best choice, and I am thinking of applying for January 2005.

A couple of questions...

1. I was wondering if the cumulative GPA also includes summer school classes? I know alot of med schools don't count summer school.

2. I read on the SGU website about their premedical program. I still have a ways to go before I finish my degree, and I was wondering if transfering to the program might be a viable path to take. It would give me a good foothold to enter their medical program, and it would also give me a strong science grounding. Over the past two years, I have found my program to be too specialized, meaning I haven't been getting the science background that would help me on the MCAT.

3. On the med school application that there is a query under personal history of whether you have ever been a subject to a disciplinary inquiry. I have unfortunately, and it involved bringing an unauthorized aid to a mid-term exam during 3rd year. I was not completely myself on the day, due to a number of circumstances, and it was the first and last time I committed such an offense. Obviously it's a very bad thing, but I was wondering how seriously SGU treats matters like this, and if I can explain to them the reasons for the misconduct?

Thanks alot!

1. I was wondering if the cumulative GPA also includes summer school classes? I know alot of med schools don't count summer school.

yes it counts if it was for credit. all med schools would count this i believe but yes certainly again, if they were for credit.

2. I read on the SGU website about their premedical program. I still have a ways to go before I finish my degree, and I was wondering if transfering to the program might be a viable path to take. It would give me a good foothold to enter their medical program, and it would also give me a strong science grounding. Over the past two years, I have found my program to be too specialized, meaning I haven't been getting the science background that would help me on the MCAT.

I personally get your premed done the traditional way. And i dont know why youd this its a better sci grounding that doing it at your school. Dont take short cuts; do your premed. Besides you need a specific gpa to automatically roll over into the md program. If youre struggling that much in your undergrad I dont know that sgu premed will be much easier. and i honestly dont even know if its mcat oriented.

3. On the med school application that there is a query under personal history of whether you have ever been a subject to a disciplinary inquiry. I have unfortunately, and it involved bringing an unauthorized aid to a mid-term exam during 3rd year. I was not completely myself on the day, due to a number of circumstances, and it was the first and last time I committed such an offense. Obviously it's a very bad thing, but I was wondering how seriously SGU treats matters like this, and if I can explain to them the reasons for the misconduct?

Explain the circumstances completely and honestly. the only thing worse that hte inquiry would be hiding it. good luck.
steph